Robert James Pearce’s disgusting text messages to undercover cop posing as 14-year-old girl revealed in court

He tried to snap his phone in half when he was arrested – now this 40-year-old Adelaide man’s gross texts to a 14-year-old girl have been exposed in court.

Robert Pearce fronted the District Court on Wednesday. Picture: Facebook

A 40-year-old man asked to see a picture of a 14-year-old girl in lingerie, sent her explicit photos and referred to her as his “future wife”, a court has heard.

Robert James Pearce, of Christie Downs, appeared in the District Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to two counts of procuring a child for sexual activity.

The court heard he spent six weeks texting an undercover cop under the assumption it was a 14-year-old girl.

Prosecutor Rowan Gulliver detailed the foul nature of Pearce’s messages to Judge Heath Barklay – telling the court the “serious offending” warranted an immediate jail term.

Pearce was arrested at the Christies Beach train station. Picture: Facebook

He appeared in the District Court on Wednesday for sentencing submissions. Picture: Facebook

“Mr Pearce has added the police officer as a friend on Facebook and immediately sent a number of messages,” Mr Gulliver said. “He asked: ‘are you there my future wife?’

“He says: ‘you take one (a selfie) – send me a sexy pic’. Most stridently, the defendant says: ‘just take a pic showing your lingerie, go on’.”

Pearce was arrested in May, 2024, when detectives from the Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team attended the Christies Beach train station where he had organised to meet the fictitious girl for sex.

A court previously heard he tried to snap his phone in half when he was pounced upon by police.

Pearce was originally granted home detention bail at his first appearance, but prosecutors appealed the decision and he was subsequently remanded in custody.

Pearce believed he was talking to a 14-year-old girl. Picture: Facebook

They alleged that, over a period of time, Mr Pearce had sent “numerous pictures of his crotch” and “asked for her to send him “sexy pics”.

“Throughout the images the defendant sends, he sends photos where you can see distinct tattoos and some of these pictures exposed his penis,” they said.

On Wednesday, defence counsel for Pearce submitted their client was “barely educated” and “barely literate”.

“He’s expressed remorse on account of the current offending,” they said. “He was not thinking clearly and was heavily under the influence of methamphetamine.

“He could not explain why he acted as he did, but wished he could take it all back.

Pearce was remanded in custody and will return to court next month for sentencing.

Originally published as Robert James Pearce’s disgusting text messages to undercover cop posing as 14-year-old girl revealed in court